Locking device for milk-cans.



L. M. MERSHIMER.

LOOKING DEVICE FOR MILK GANS APPLIGATION 'FILED HB4, 1914.

1,1 32,598. Patented Mar. 23, 191.5.

INI'IE@ STATES FAIRE@ EIIIQE.

LAWRENCE IVI. MIERSHIMER, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR MILK-SANS.

Application filed. February 7, 1914.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE M. MER- sHiMnR, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New Castle, in the county of Lawrence and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLocking Devices for Milk-Cans, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rIhis invention relates to new and useful improvements in means forlocking the covers on milk cans. Y

The object of the invention resides in the provision of means associatedwith a conventional form of milk can and cover, whereby the cover may besecurely locked in place, it being specifically the object to providesuch means which does not interfere with placing the cover on the can orwith removing it therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such means whichmay be readily applied to any form of milk can or the like and which isof such simple construction as may be manufactured and applied atcomparatively little cost. M

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in thenovel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which similarcharacters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views and, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of the upperportion of a milk can with my improved locking device associatedtherewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portionof a milk can displaying the locking attachment in section; and \F1g. 3is a perspective view of the locking device detached from the can..

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 5 designates a milk can which isprovided with the usual upstanding flange 6 adapted to be embraced bythe flange 7 of the cover.

To provide means whereby the cover may be securely locked to the canwithout interfering materially with the removal of the cover whendesired, or with placing the cover on the can, the cover flange and theadjacent portion ofthe can are provided with vertically extending slots8 which are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 817,322.

adapted to aline when the cover and can proper' are in relativeposition. A spring strip 9 is secured at 10 adjacent to the upper edgeof the flange 6 and has' its-lower end disposed over the slotted opening8 of the can. A staple ll is secured to the lower end of the strip andis normally resiliently pressed through the slots 8 of the can andcover, so that a lock can readily be engaged with the staple 2 to lockthe cover securely in closed position. The sides of this staple areinclined toward eachother so that when the cover is removed the lowerwall of the slot 8 of the flange 7 will ride against the under inclinedside of the staple and force the staple inwardly against the resistancepresented by theA inherent resiliency of the strip 9. In other words,the shape of the staple renders its release from the slots automaticwhen the cover is lifted, thereby rendering unnecessary any manipulationon the part of the user for this purpose. 'Ihus it will be seen that anexceedingly simple structure is provided which will efficiently performall of the functions normally required thereof.

I-Iaving thus described this invention, what is claimed is:-

The combination with the neck of a milk can provided'adjacent to itspoint of juncture with the body vwith a slot, and a cover provided witha neck-inclosing flange having a slot to register with that of the neck,of a resilient strip secured near its upper end to the inner wallof thecan neck and carrying at its lower end a staple to project through thetwo slots, the staple having its sides bent at an angle to converge toan apex and thus provide cam surfaces, the lower cam surface by contactwith the bottom wall of the cover slot, when the cover is lifted,causing the staple automatically to be withdrawn from the slot torelease the cover, and the upper cam surface by contact with the underedge of the neck, when the cover is being positioned, causing the stapleautomatically to recede from the neck to permit the final seating of thecover.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

LAW'RENGE M. MERSHIMER.

Witnesses:

W. S. ORRIs,

JOHN IIARTZELL.

copiez of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents.

Washington, ZD. C.

